Tick, Tock

We're still waiting for Eve to come in heat (sometimes they only come in once a year).  So, yes, we are going to breed her! Just waiting on her. Let us know if you want to be placed on a wait list for her puppies (see our contact info to the right).

Look Familiar?

For those of you with 2 boxers at home, you probably can relate!

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

We kissed sweet Teddy goodbye yesterday as he made his way a few hours north with his new family. Our home is certainly less lively this morning.  We miss him already...but our puppies are always in our hearts!  Special thanks to all of our new owners, who love them even more than we do!

Dying for a Playmate

Teddy is dying for a playmate, and he'll get his chance tomorrow when he goes home. In the meantime, he and Eve had some fun tonight. 

Teddy at 10 weeks!

We are enjoying our last couple days with Teddy before he heads to his new home this weekend. He'll be so happy to have another boxer playmate at home to keep him company. He is full of life, love, and a little trouble! Here he is at 10 weeks.

Curiosity Killed the Cat...or Dog

Teddy is filled with curiosity this week. So many fun things to see and explore. But as they say, "Curiosity killed the cat!" Be sure to always have your eyes on your puppy. They can get into a lot of trouble in a matter of 60 seconds (or less!). Of course, anything is fair game if it's on his level:

Pinecones...he thinks they are perfect for munching and crunching. And they don't slip out of his mouth while running around in circles as you are trying to entice him with something more puppy friendly.

Rags are always an easy target, particularly when you are under the sink and he is just waiting for the opportunity to slide past you with one in his mouth. Hopefully there aren't any chemicals on them. They love to rip these with those sharp teeth. They may even become "alive."

 Shoes are a particular favorite. He dragged my shoe over the entire kitchen, and if I let him, he probably would have made a chew toy out of it. Instead, he started on his back paw. Now if you have flip flops laying around--every puppy thinks that's the BEST toy ever!

If you want to know what real toys work best, try racquet balls--they love that they are bouncy and fast, and they can easily fit into their mouths and are not easily destroyed by those sharp teeth. Chew toys, like Nylabones or Kong toys are also great. We don't usually use rawhides. They chew and chew them, but eventually they swallow them and they are difficult to digest. Our two boxers usually end up in a fight over who gets it because of their possessiveness with their toys. Rope toys are usually well liked and are fun if you have another dog at home. 

Puppy at 9 Weeks!

Teddy is now 9 weeks, and in another, he'll be with his new family. He's such a great dog, and hopefully it won't be too hard to send him away (I anticipate some tears from my girls). He's actually potty training quite well--better than anticipated. My trick is to set the kitchen timer for 20 minutes if he is out playing in the house and take him out. So far, only one accident (only pee). Persistence... Patience...and Paper Towels!

Missing His Littermates

With his littermates gone, Teddy is a little lonesome. He is getting some special attention over the next few weeks in the transition. After he went potty outside this morning, he made himself at home on the new dog bed, and he thought it was quite cozy! 

Farewell, Ruby

We kissed sweet Ruby goodbye today. Her new owners hadn't met her yet, and she brought tears to their eyes. Love at first sight! We wish them many wonderful years of happiness together!

Goodbye, Brightman!

We said our goodbyes to Brightman this afternoon. He had his final playtime with Ruby and Teddy, and is now enjoying one-on-one with his happy new master. Seeing happy owners is one of the best rewards for us!

A Final Goodbye

The puppy departures began tonight with mom Maddie and Bailey. Maddie was certainly an amazingly loving and caring mom right to the very end.  They enjoyed their last playtime outside before getting a little spa treatment. A very special thanks to Maddie's owners for allowing Maddie to be such a big part of our lives!

Puppies at 8 Weeks

2 months with these puppies has gone quickly, and their departure this week is bittersweet for us. They are all true gems and we know they will make many families very happy for years to come.  Teddy will remain with us for a couple extra weeks, so we are making the other puppy departures gradual for him. They are eating about double what they ate last week, and, as you can see from the pictures, are growing like weeds!

Teddy (Rolo)

Bailey (Hershey)

 Ruby (M&M)

 Brightman (Snickers)

Puppies at 7 Weeks!

These little rascals are on the move and more challenging to keep still for their photos. They were glad to get outside today after the rains. I picked up some new rope toys too, and they loved playing keep-away with each other.

Teddy (Rolo)

Bailey (Hershey)

 Ruby (M&M)

Brightman (Snickers)

Bailey and Teddy

 Brightman, ready to challenge

 and he won

Bailey

Teddy

Ruby

Brightman

Healthy!

The puppies had their first visit to the vet yesterday and they all got a clean bill of health! They also had their first set of puppy shots. You should now plan on scheduling an appointment in 3 weeks (the week of March 11) for their next round of shots.

Picnic and Playtime

We had a major bathing day today for the 3 older dogs since it was so warm out today (puppies won't get their first bath until their day of departure), which included shampoo, shaves, manicures and pedicures for all. Then we brought out the puppies for a picnic lunch and playtime. The fresh air does them good. Two more weeks! 

Teddy

 Brightman, Teddy (he jumped in the water bowl), and Bailey

 Lunchtime

Ruby

Puppies at 6 Weeks!

Six weeks has flown by! The pups enjoyed the afternoon in the backyard, with Maddie teaching them about playtime.

Teddy (Rolo)

Bailey (Hershey)

 Ruby (M&M)

Brightman (Snickers)

Maddie gently plays with her pups. They love the outside.

If you have another boxer at home, you may be wondering how they might react to a new puppy. We brought Eve out to play with the puppies for the first time, and you can see a difference between Maddie and Eve. Maddie, as mom, is gently guiding the play and uses her nose and paws to direct her pups. Eve wonders who these puppies are in her yard and is a little nervous and jumpy with them. The puppies are playful with both, but they are a little nervous about Eve's quick moves (Eve will be 3 in April). As you introduce your new puppy to those at home, take it slowly and be patient with both the mature dog and the puppy. Although the puppy will naturally require a lot of your attention, pay more attention to your mature dog than the puppy. This will allow the puppy blend into your relationships already established, instead of redefining them. You are bringing the puppy into your world, and that doesn't need to change just because a new puppy is in the family now. Be sure to never leave the mature dog and puppy unattended until the relationship between the two is established and safe.

New Names

It was a pleasure to meet most of our new owners over the weekend. We love knowing our puppies will be well cared for and loved immensely.  Each has a new name, which we have begun using.  Rolo is now Teddy, Hershey is now Bailey, M&M is now Ruby, and Snickers is now Brightman.  They gave me a cute pose this afternoon!

Left to Right: Teddy, Brightman, Ruby, and Bailey

Nothing like the aroma of steaming dog food permeating your home! 

Now that they have teeth (sharp ones!), we no longer need to blend their food, but we do completely soften it with hot water so they can eat it easily.  They eventually won't need it so soft, but we do highly recommend that you always soften dog food with a little hot water.  Choking on dog food is a common problem, especially among puppies, and it can easily result in death. Here is a great link by Eukanuba for extra advice about feeding your growing puppy.

http://www.eukanuba.com/en-US/puppy-guide/basic-feeding-guidelines-for-your-puppy.jspx

Although this is a flat and wide dog bowl from which they all eat, we recommend the 2 Quart Durapet Bowl - Stainless Steel - SS295QB (Google Affiliate Ad) for your use at home. It's dishwasher safe, and avoids slipping and sliding across the floor.

Early Crate Training

Crate training is an essential part of training your new puppy.  It provides a safe and comfortable home of it's own, and prevents damage (well, more like total destruction) of your home while you are away. We introduced the small crate today so the puppies see it as a "normal" part of life.  With the door off, and a cozy mat inside, they can come and go as they please. As you can see, they made themselves right at home.

Maybe we need a bigger one...

Puppies at 5 Weeks

Happy and playful, these little puppies have grown immensely over the last 5 weeks. What fun they are!

Left to Right: Hershey, Snickers, Rolo, and M&M

M&M and Snickers and Rolo

Rolo: Classic Fawn Male--Sold to a Loving Home

Hershey: Classic Fawn Female--Sold to a Loving Home

M&M: Fawn Female--Sold to a Loving Home


Snickers: Fawn Male--Sold to a Loving Home

Today, Maddie was taking a break from her pups and made herself at home on the Dora couch. Our little one was a bit confused by her presence...

so she gave up and joined her!

After breakfast this morning, they decided to clean each other up. Too cute not to share!